Lift-bridge.



T. A. L. WADDELL &: J. L, HARRINGTON- LIFT BRIDGE. v

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 25, 1908.

Patented Mar. '29, 1910.

4 sums-sum 1.

W'ITNESSES:

J. ALL. WAD'DELL w. L. HARRINGTON.

LIFT BRIDGE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 26, 1908.

Patented Mar. 29,1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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mm Ill 'INVEN'IORS. JAM. Made/9.. 3 y ,dj/fQf/j/Zj/b? A TTORNE Y J. A. L. WADDELL & J. L. HARRINGTUN.

LIFT BRIDGE. APPLICATION FILED 11m 26, 1908.

A'TTONEY.

INVEN TORS 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Patented Mar. 29, 1910.

J. A. L; WADDELL 6: J. L. HARRINGTON.

LIFT BRIDGE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 26, 1908.

O 11 9 1 9 2 PM. a M d w H w a P W! TNESSES:

, UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN A. L. WADDELL AND JOKE LYLE HARRINGTON, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSUURI.

LIFT-BRIDGE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN A. L. VVAD- DELL and JOHN LYLE HARRINGTON, both citizens of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri. have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lift-Bridges; and we do declare the following to be a full clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appcrtains to make and usethe same. reference being had to the accompany-. mg drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

()ur invention relates to lift bridges and more particularly to a bridge having a single span that is adapted for carrying traflic over a ship canal, and for elevation to permit the passage of vessels there-beneath; the present invention being an improvement 011 the lift bri dge disclosed in Letters Patent No. 506,571 issued to John A. L. \Vaddell, one of the: present inventors, October 10th, 1893.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a lift bridge in which the movable span is raised and lowered from separate and disconnected towers; to provide a plurality. of motors or drivers that may operate simultaneously or singly for actuating the lifting mechanism; to provide improved brake, stop, and lock mechanisms for automatically controlling the actionof the mtivable span, and to provide improved tension regulating parts.

Itis also our object to provide other improved details of structure which will presently be fully described and pointed onf in the claims, reference being had to the acclimpanying drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several *views, and in which Figure I a view, in front elevation, of a lift bridge constructed according to our invention. Fig, II is a top plan view of the [same, the tower houses being horizontally sectioned to illustrate the inclosed transmis- -'sign. Fig. III is an end view of one of the towers, the tower house being vertically sec- 1 tionedto illustrate the inclosed parts. Fig.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 26,

Patented Mar. al, 119ml. 1908. Serial No. 440,463.

l winch and its connection with the driving shaft. Fig. VIII is a detail view of the lifting 'span, illustrating the automatic locking mechanism. Fig. IX is an enlarged vertical section of the locking jaws and span pin, on r the line IX IX, F K. Fig. X is an end l view of the span locking parts. Fig. XI is an enlarged detail view of the equalizing weight supporting bracket. Fig. XII is a similar view of the equalizer connecting the cables with the lifting span. Fig. XIII is a diagrammatic view of the direct and cross transmissions. Fig. XIV is a similar View showing a modified arrangement of the cross transmission parts. Fig. XV is an enlarged detail view, in side elevation of the automatic brake parts. Fig. XVI is a circuit diagram. I

Referring more in detail to the parts 11 designate the two bridge towers, which are supported on ahutments 3 at opposite sides of the channel 2, and are wholly disconnected except for the transmission cables. As such towers and their suporting and of each other, but one will be described in detail with the understandingthat such description relates equally to both.

4.: designates a lift span which extends across the channel 2, and, when in its low-- cred position. is supported on the abutments 3 so that its flooring ison the road grade, in position for use as an ordinary bridge. The towers and lift span are preferably to be constructed of structural steel.

At each end of the span are the offset arms 5 which extend outside the tower posts and are provided with laterally projecting guide channels 6 which are adapted to embrace the guide flanges '8' that are rigidly mounted on the tower posts, to guide the spanduring its vertical travel; the fit of such par-ts being adapted to permit free vertical movement of the span although being sufficiently song to prevent material longitudinal or lated in bearings 10-40, that are supported on the top of tower 1, is a main shaft 11 which extends transversely to the tower and rigidly carries the gear wheels 12 and 13, the former of which engages the gear l t on-a motor shaft 15.

16 designates motors, arranged in pairs of 'a;ny suitable type, one of which is locat'ed at each side of the tower and which are adapted for simultaneously actuating eral movement thereof. Rei olubly mountsupported parts are substantia ly duplicates V the motor shaft which is common to the j pair of motors. 15 designates clutches, of an ordinary: type, for throwing the motor shaft 15 into and out of operative connection with the motors. Revolubly mounted in bearings 17-47 on tower 1 is a driven shaft 18 on which is rigidly mounted a gear wheel 18 that is adapted for constantly meshing with a gear 19 on an intermediate shaft 20 that is jour naled in bearings 21 between the shafts 11 and 18. Rigidly mounted on the intermediate shaft 20 is a gear 22 which is adapted for constant mesh with the gear 13 on the main shaft 11; the intermediate parts connecting the main shaft 11 with the driven shaft 18 being adapted for positively driving the latter at considerably slower s eed than that at which the motor shaft revo ves. Rigidly mounted on each end of the driven 4 shaft 18 is a rear sheave 23 that, is adapted to partly pro'ect over the outer ed e: of the. tower an is arranged preferaby in alinement with a forward sheave 24 that is supported on bearings 25 and is adapted to project over the inner ed e of the tower. 26 designates cables, preferably four in number, which ,extend in pairs over the sheaves 23 and 24, and are attached at their respc 'ive ends to the span 4: and a counter balaneing weight 27. To prevent an unequal tr'ain being placed on any one of the cables in the event of their unequal contraction or expansion, or from other causes, we provide the span ends with an equalizer comprisin the balance beams 2829 which are pivota 1y connected by links 30 with opposite .ends of a main beam 31, which is adapted to IOCK on a center pin 32 that projects therethrough and carries, at its ends, a yoke 33; said yoke being mounted at its lower end on a pin 34 in the end of the movable span. To each end of the small balance beams 28-29 are pivoted the sockcts 35 to which the span ends ofthe cables 26 are attached.

At the weight ends, the cables are attached to sockets 36 which are pivoted to the rocking beams 37 which in turn are pivotally' connected with the ends of the main beam 38 by links 39; the main beam bein balanced at its center on a pin 40 which supports a yoke 41; the parts just described being substantially identical with the equalizing parts at the span end. Supported on yoke 41 is a rod 412 that extends through a weight 27 that is preferably constructed of concrete and formed. in a single iece of sufficient weight to balance one alf of the weight of the lift span. At each end of the weight 27 is an eye pin 14, which is con-,' nected with the balance pin 40 by links 45,- for the purpose of steadying the weight dur- As illustrated in the drawings, the weight 1 carrying parts are duplicated on the opposite sides of each tower so that each half of the span is counterbalanced by: a single weight which is connected with the span by duplicate sets of cables.

With the bridge equipped with a double set of motor and transmission parts, of the character described, and with the lift span balanced at each end by the weights 3?, it would be possible to raise and lower the span by sin'iultaneously o erating both pair of motors; the friction of the paired cables it; on their shea'vcs being suflicient to overcome the friction and the inertia of the parts. It is one of the objects of our invention. however, so to combine the parts that, should one pair of motors become inoperative, the transmitting mechanism may be operated and the span raised or lowered by the pair of motors on either tower. To accomplish this 'we have provided the following mechan- 0n the shaft 11 on each tower are rigidly mounted the rear sheaves 46 or 46. ()n the side of the tower at one side of the channel are the bearings 4748 arranged in substantial alinement with the rear sheaves 46 on the shafts 11 and in which are axially mounted the forward sheaves 4950. On the'opposite side of the other tower are forward sheaves 4950', which corres )Olld in structure and arrangement with the orward sheaves 49-50 onthe opposite tower, the only difference being that the bearings and forward sheaves are on opposite sides of opposite towers.

51 designates an endless cable that is adapted for travel on the sheaves 46, 49 and 50 on the tower 1 and over the sheave 46' on the tower 1'. Between the forward sheaves 4t950, cable 51 carries. a tension sheave 52 from which a weight 53 is hung for the purpose of constantly tensioning the cable 51 so that any slack due to contraction or expansion, or other causes, may be taken up antka secured.

54.- designates a cable that is adapted for travel over the sheaves 46, 49, I10 and 46 and is provided with a tension sheave 52 and weight 53 which are of the same construction and operated in the same'manncr as the parts on the opposite sides of the towers, that have just been described.

It will be noted that the cables Til--54 are crossed in extending between the towers-so that the weight 53 tensions the cable 51 be- .tween the top of the rear sheave 46 and the bottom of the rear sheave 46 while the weight 53' tensions the cable 54 between the the rear sheave 46', so that the cable 51 "acts directly between the top of the rear sheave ing its upward and downward travel.

46 and bottom of the rear sheave 46' when close contact of. the cable with its shcav s bottom of the rear sheave 46 and the top of the paired motors are operated in one direction and the cable 54 acts directly between the bottom of the rear sheave to and top of HInFi .XIVwe the rear sheave 4($,-when the motors are operated in the opposite direction. In this way the power from the transmission on one tower may be instantly applied to the transmission on' the opposite tower to secure mnltaneous action on both ends of the span. a result which could not be obtained should both cables have their weights suspended between either the top or bottom of the respective sheaves. for the-reason that while the transmission on one tower is operating in one direction, the cables would pull directly on the opposite transmission, but should the motion be reversed the pull would first come on the weight or 53, and raise same slightlv before reaching the opposite tower, thereby causing the end of the span adjacent to the tower on which the operating motor is located to start on its upward or downward travel before the opposite end is actuated, and produce an uneven operation of the span, which might, result in the s an jamming between the towers. When he ends of the span are unequally loaded the transmission mechanism further acts to compel synchronous action of the two drivers by lacing the greater portion of the whole load upon the motors which tend to run at the greater speed and'relieving the slower motors of part of their load, thus tending to reduce the speed of the. .faster motors and increasing the speed of the slower ones. It can also be seen that by continuing to revolve the rear sheaves 23 after the span has reached the limit of its travel in either direction, the tension on the paired ropes 26 will boequalized.

show a modified arrangement 0 the cablesffil and 54 and their sheaves, in which thcfidlers are all arranged in the same tower; such arrangement being operative but not'asdesirable as-the one previously described.

Referring now to Figs. IX and X on the abutment 3 beneath each end of the span 4 ing levers titi which are arranged in pairs is a brake frame 54 having a. pin 55. Loosely mounted on the pin 55 are the lockand are provided with hook ends 57 which are'adapted to project over the pin 58 on l the under side of the span from opposite sides, for holding the span firmly in position; each lever beiitg provided with a woight arm 59 that is adapted tot normally retain the levers in locking position, but which may be rocked by the downwardengageincnt of the span pin to enable such pin to ps1 between the locking jaws'to reach its locking position v In Fig. VIII, designatesii. cable having hranches that are extended over pal;

lays 61, the latter being so located that when mechanism being mg levers may be: rocked away from the' span pin to free the latter when it is desired to raise the span. 6?. designates a solenoid which is connected with a switch 63 so that it may be energized at will from a point to which the lead wires may run, and has a core til which is connected with the cable (50, so that when the solenoid is energized the eore will be retracted and the cable actuated to rock the locking levers and free the span \Vhile we have provided means for operating the structure from the motor on one tower only should that on the other become inoperative, we wish also to provide means for operating by hand should the motors on both towers become useless. This is done by providing the shaft. 11 with a beveled gear 35, with which a pinion 6 on a vertical shaft 7 is adapted to mesh: shaft 67 having at its lower end a pinion 8 that is adapted to mesh with a pinion (it) on a forwardly projecting shaft '70; said shaft. 70 having a clutch 71 with which a mating clutch 72 on a shaft '73 is adapted to coin nect for the purpose of actuating the shaft 11 and its connected 73. On the end of sha t 73 is a beveled gear 74 iihich meshes with a like member 75 on a shaft 76; the latter being extended upwardly to a desired height and provided with a hand winch 77.

\Vhile the operating motors may be controlled entirely by hand and suitable bump-' ers provided for lessening the impact of the span as it approaches the upward or downward limit of its travel, we prefer to pro- )arts from the shaft vide means for automatically shutting oil the .motors, and applying rakes to the transmission as the span reaches either its upper or lower position; the following referred 7 8 designates a band Wheel that mount ed on each oi the motor shafts 15.;

79 designates brake frame arms, that are pivotally mounted at their lower ends in a frame 80 and are provided with shoes 81 that. are adapted to swing into engagement with the periphery of the band wheel 78; 82 designating a spring that connects the oppositeframe arms and is adapted For yieldingly pressing the shoes: against s id wheel. r

83 designates a lever arm-on each of the brake frames which. is connected with an actuatingmembcr 8a, preferably a-solenoid, 1

so that such actuating member may retain. the brake levers out of Contact. With. the brake band wheel when the motors arcin operation, but will release said member to the action ot their spr ng when .themotors are shut off.

85 designates a controller "adapted for starting and stopping the, mctoranndsioropening or closing a circuit through the solenoids. and which, being of any ordinary type. is not shown in detail; such controller being used when motors of an electrical type are employed and an equivalent mechanical device lll) llilll(tl therefor when necessary. To each set of cables '26 is rigidly attached a clamp St) which is adapted to rock the levers 81'. which are pivotally mounted on the top and bottom of the towers 1 and' 1' as the span approaches the upward or downward limit of its travel. such levers being so connected with the motor and brake controller that. when rocked by the cable clamps the) \\'ill actuate the controller to effect an automaticshut. down and application of the brakes. lnasmuch as such automatic parts may in themselves be (if-any well known structure, a detailed illustration and descrip lion thereof is not given, as the only invention claimed for these parts is their com: bination with a bridge of the present type. llnder ordinary conditions the span 4 will remain in its lowered position so that it may .be used as an ordinary bridge, the floor of the span being level wih the road grade and the span ends locked by' the end levers 56,

When it is desired to raise the span, the loclting levers are rocked to release the span pins 58 so that they may pass from betweeirthe locking jaws. The loclcbeing open, the motors on each of the bridge towers are started -in operation, causing a revolution of shafts l8 and sheaves 23 through the transmission previously described. The lift span and weights being supported by the cables .26, and being even y balanced thereon, the weight of the parts is supported on the sheaves 23 and 2.4 so that there isa decided friction of the cables against the sheave peripheries that will cause a travel of the former upona revolution of the latter; the wei hts descending and the span ascending until the latter has reached the upward limit. of its travel. As the span apiroaches its upper position, the clamp on tie cable 26 rocks the lever 87 on the tower, which actuates the controller, and through it shuts off the motors and applies the brakes in the manner described, so that the. span may assume its upper position without a damaging impact against the tower parts or straining of the mechanism. \Vhen it is desired to lower the span, the motors are thrown into operation through -the controller and operated in a direction op osite to that just described; the travel oi the cables 36 being thereby reversed so that the span is lowered and the weights lifted in the same manner as for an upward travel oiithe span. As the span has been moved above the locking lcvcrs, at the first movement,the locking levers automaticallyrock back to their operative position, so that as the span approaches its normal position the pin 58 strikes against the beveled edges of the locking levers and forces same apart against the tension of their weighted arms, to enable the pins to assume their locked position beneath the hook ends when the levers are rocked back by their own weight to enable such hooks to engage and hold the span pins and prevent an accidental displacement; the motors being cut (iii and the-brakes applied in the same manner as described in reference to the upward travel.

\Vhile the span may be operated in the manner described. a more perfectoperation is secured by providing the cross cables 51-54, which unite the transmission on opposite towers; the weights 535? providing the necessary tension for developing friction on the sheaves for operating the parts. \Vith a connection of this class. should one of the motors become inoperative. it may be cut out bythe clutch lti and the opposite motor will drive its own transmission and through the cable 51 or 54 transmit power fol actuating the opposite shaft 11 for the purpose of simultaneously raising or lowering both ends of the span and weights. Should both motors become inoperative, the clutch 16 may be operated to throw the motor shaft out of connection with the transmission, the hand winch connected with the drive shaft 11 and the transmission operated through the winch. 'hile we have shown a plurality of motors for operating each of the shafts 11, it is readily apparent that a single motor may be provided for the purpose. if desired.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. A lift bridge comprising towers, motor mechanism mounted upon the top of each tower, each mechanism comprising a motorshaft, a motor coupled to the motor shaft, an intermediate lift span, gearing geared with the motor shaft, and flexible connections between the ends of the lift span and the gearing.

2. lift bridge comprising towers, motor mechanism mounted upon the top of each.

tower. each mechanism comprising a motor, an intermediate lift span, and means whereby said span may be-actuated by the simultaneous action of the motors or by the independent action of each motor.

3. A lift bridge ,comprising towers, motor mechanism mounted upon the top of each tower, each said mechanism com rising a shaft, a pair of motors clutche to said shaft; and an intermediate lift span adapted for movement by the simultaneous action of the paired motors on opposite towers or by the. independent action of either pair of motors alone.

4. lift bridge comprising towersnn intermediate lift span, a motor-driven shaftupon the top of each tower, at sheave rigidly mounted on each shaft, idler sheaves, and a cable passing over both driving shaft sheaves and the idler sheaves, substantially as and for the urpose set forth.

5. A lift briilge comprising disconnected towers, an intermediate counterbalanced span supported from said towers, a motordriven shaft on the top of each tower having power transmitting parts adapted for frictional contact with the span-supporting means, a sheave Wheel on each driven shaft, 9. pair of idler sheaves for one end of: each set of power mechanisms, and a cable connecting relative sheaves on the opposite driven shafts and adapted for travel over one set of idler sheaves, each of said cables having a Weight suspended by a pnlley'between its pair of idler sheaves. substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. A lift bridge comprising towers, a pair of motors mounted upon the top of each tower, a lift span adapted for actuation by said paired motors, and means for equalizing the work of the paired motors on the two towers to secure an even travel of the span.

7, A lift bridge comprising towers, a pair of motors mounted upon the top of each of the towers, of the motors of each pair be ing coupled, transmission means connecting the aired motors on opposite towers, and equa izing devices coinprised in said transmission means.

8. ln combination, a lift bridge tower, a

motor driven shaft thereon, a pinion on said shaft, :1 countershatt, a gear thereon, driven by said pinion, sheaves 46, 46 on said countershaft, a pinion 13 on the counter-shaft, a shaft 21, a gear on said shaft, driven by said pinion 13, a pinion 19 on said shaft 21.

a second bridge tower, sheaves thereon, and two endless cables passing over the sheaves 46, do and over the sheaves on the second bridge tower.

9. In combination, a lift bridge tower, a motor driven shaft thereon, a pinion on said shaft, a countershaft, a gear thereon, driven by said pinion, sheaves 46, ill on said countershaft, a pinion 13 on the countershaft, a shaft 21, a gear on said shaft, driven by said pinion 13, a pinion 19 on said shaft 21, a shaft 18, a gear thereon driven by said pinion 19, sheaves 23 on shaft 18, sheaves ii on the tower, a lift span between the towers, cables 26 connected to said span and passing over sheaves Q3 and 24, conntcrwcights on cables 26, a second bridge tower, sheaves thereon, and two endless cables passing over the sheaves 16, 46 and over the sheaves on the second bridge tower.

In testimony whereof we aiiix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN A. L. WADDELL.

JOHN, LYLE HARRINGTON. Witnesses: ERNEST E. Howaram, Vwron Hi Goonnxmn. 

